A Plot with a Happy Ending The Creative Company Helps Sharon Write A New Chapter
It was a plot twist Sharon Griebel did not see coming. When COVID 19 hit in March of 2020, she lost her job of more than a decade. But she quickly realized, she should start writing the next chapter in her life story. Sharon has been with MRCI since 1979 and has worked on a variety of crews and in the workshop. She started at the Blue Earth County Intergovernmental Center in 2009 and worked there until March of 2020when COVID hit. It was hard for her to be without work and she returned to the competitive job search in October of 2020. COVID, though, still had a substantial effect on work opportunities. Determined, Sharon put her job search on hold and participated in our Track to Success program in February of 2021. Track is a program that combines classroom learning of job skills with on-the-job work experience. After graduating from Track in March of 2021, she returned to her job search. Through the program, she was able to build her experience by completing various job tryouts with Paragon Printing, Precision Press, and Navitor Specialty Products. Sharon was eager for long-term employment.
Then, in February of 2022, MRCI developed a relationship with The Creative Company in North Mankato. With her employment coordinator Becky Willett, Sharon toured The Creative Company in early March and was hired on the spot. Sharon couldn’t have written it better herself. “I love having a job that gets me out of the house, helps me pay bills, and gives me a little extra spending money to treat myself,” says Sharon. “My supervisor, Brandon, is also very nice and very supportive. I even had my own chair ordered by day 2!”
Brandon feels the same way about Sharon. “The Creative Company hired Sharon to help pack orders in our fulfillment department. Over the course of the last two months, she has proven to be a dedicated employee, exceeding our expectations on a daily basis,” he says. “Not only is Sharon a great employee, but she also has a great work ethic, sense of humor, and a huge heart. All of us at The Creative Company are excited to be able to provide Sharon the tools to succeed in our workplace and make our company better at the same time!”
A bonus for Sharon is that while she works at Creative Company she can listen to her favorite books on tape. But she knows her own story isn’t over yet.